Federal Inmate Sentenced in Escape Plot

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Henry Poteet, age 66, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 10 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter for Conspiracy to Commit Escape. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release, Poteet will serve a 3-year term of supervised release.

On July 26, 2019, Poteet was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (actual). Pursuant to this sentence, Poteet was incarcerated at the USP Leavenworth Camp, a minimum-security camp, in Leavenworth, Kansas. Poteet’s 10-month sentence will run consecutive to the completion of his 10-year sentence.

On October 28, 2020, Poteet and Katherine Woitaszewski conspired for Poteet to escape from Bureau of Prison custody at USP Leavenworth Camp. On October 28, 2020, Woitaszewski contacted an individual identified as Witness 1 and asked if she could borrow Witness 1’s truck. Woitaszewski explained to Witness 1 that her vehicle’s tires had been slashed and she needed a vehicle to travel from Omaha to Leavenworth to help Poteet escape from prison. The United States Marshals Service became aware of the escape plot and through a ruse a Deputy U.S. Marshal was contacted by Woitaszewski who did not know his occupation and discussed the Deputy U.S. Marshal renting a truck on her behalf.

At approximately 7:16 PM on October 28, 2020, Poteet called Woitaszewski by phone from USP Leavenworth Camp. Woitaszewski and Poteet discussed Woitaszewski arriving in Leavenworth the next morning at 8:00 am and Poteet would call her at 8:15 am. Woitaszewski and Poteet discussed Poteet wearing a mask at all times.

Woitaszewski then contacted an individual identified as Witness 2 and asked Witness 2 to rent a truck on her behalf. Woitaszewski traveled with Witness 1 from Omaha, Nebraska to Carter Lake, Iowa to pick Witness 2 up from Witness 2’s residence. Woitaszewski, Witness 1, and Witness 2 then traveled to the Omaha Eppley Airfield. Witness 2 attempted to rent a truck from Budget Rental Car for Woitaszewski to use. Witness 2 was unable to rent a vehicle and Woitaszewski asked Witness 1 to rent a vehicle from Budget Rental Car for her to use to drive from Omaha, Nebraska to Leavenworth, Kansas to facilitate Poteet’s escape from USP Leavenworth Camp. Woitaszewski was arrested shortly after leaving Budget Rental Car.

Katherine Woitaszewski is still pending trial and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Following Poteet’s sentencing hearing, Scott Kracl, United States Marshal for the District of Nebraska, stated, “The hard work, persistence and cooperative effort of Deputy U.S. Marshals and members of the Metro Fugitive Task Force have once again proven the effectiveness of our Nebraska partners in keeping our community safe.”

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Omaha Police Department.